On April 18th, 2012 The Airplane Factory received its S-LSA Airworthiness certificate for the first Sling LSA (N511NG), making it the latest LSA to come to market. The Sling began development in 2006 in South Africa, and over 60 airplanes have been delivered in other parts of the world, with over 100 orders received by the factory to date. This airplane is the first US-registered Sling.

The Sling was designed from the start to make full use of the LSA envelope and to be in compliance with ASTM standards for Special Light-Sports. In 2009, company owners Mike Blyth and James Pitman flew one of the Sling prototypes around the world including legs of over 22 hours over ocean, and stopped at EAA AirVenture 2009, where they were an attraction in the main square.

The Airplane Factory is headquartered in Johannesburg South Africa, where they employ 75 full time staff, and produce 5 ready-to-fly Slings per month, and many more kits. The Sling LSA will also be available as an E-LSA Kit or an Experimental Amateur-Built kit.

The Airplane Factory, Inc in California, sister company to The Airplane Factory in South Africa, is the US entity responsible for marketing, distributing and supporting the Sling line of aircraft in North America. The Airplane Factory, Inc., using the motto “Bringing the Spirit of Aviation to the Masses” plans to work on rejuvinating aviation in the local communities, with innovative flight training, flying club, and marketing strategies.

Sling N511NG will be based at Torrance Airport (KTOA) and will be flying to Oshkosh AirVenture 2012 where it will be on display at Booth #305.